Rail-joint.



No. 670,II5. v Patented Mar. I9, l90l.

- A. |.`& B.v F. STEPHENS.

RAIL JOINT.

(A licaton led Aug. 14, 1900 :mmmw::. A,

UNrrEE STATES PATENT OFFICE.

AMMON l'. STEPHENS AND BENJMEN F. STEPHENS, OF REEVES, TEXAS.

RAIL-JOINT.

SEECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 670,115, dated March 19, 1901.

Application led August 14, 1900. Serial No. 26,882. (No model.)

To @ZZ wir/0m t may concern:

Be it known that we, AMMON I. STEPHENS and BENJMEN F. STEPHENS, citizens of the United States, residing at Reeves, in the county of Briscoe and State of Texas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Rail-Joints; and wedo hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and eX- act description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and ilse the same.

This invention relates to rail-joints, and has for its object the provision of a substantial and stiff joint at a less expense than the ordinary joint including fish-plates and a series of bolts and which will obviate the use of chairs to support the ends of adjacent rails and bordering upon the joint.

For a full description of the invention and the merits thereof and also to acquire a knowledge of the details of construction of the means for effecting the result reference is to be had to the appended description and drawings hereto attached.

While the essential and characteristic features of the invention are necessarily susceptible of modiiication, still the preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is a side elevation of a rail-joint constructed in accordance with this invention. Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1, parts being broken away to sho7 more clearly the relation of the interlocking projections and sockets. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the end of a rail having the interlocking projections. Fig. Lt is a perspective view of the end of a rail having sockets, the rail being inverted. Fig. 5 is a transverse section.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the following description and indicated in all the views of the drawings by the same reference characters.

The end portions of adjacent rails between which the joint is formed are represented by the numerals 1 and 2. The end l is formed with a basal extension 3, in line with the foot of the rail and adapted to underlap the end 2, which has its foot portion recessed to receive the extension 3 and admit of it coming iush with the bottom side of the rails. A series of projections 4, 5, and 6 are formed upon the top side of the extension 3, the projections 5 and 6 being preferably of wedge shape in cross-section and adapted to enter correspending sockets or depressions in the bottom side of the end 2. The projection 4 is adjacent tothe terminal of the rail bordering upon the extension 3 and is transversely apertured, as shown at 7, to receive a bolt or key 8, by means of which the members or parts of the joint are secured when asseln bled. The terminal of the part l adjacent to the extension 3 is inclined toward said extension 3 to facilitate the assembling of the rails in the construction of the railway. The end 2 has its foot portion cut away for a short distance from the extremity to accommodate the basal extension 3, and sockets or depressions 9 and l0 are formed in its bottom side to receive the 'projections 5 and 6. These sockets are tapering in conformity to the projections, so as to snugly receive them and prevent any lateral movement of the parts comprising the joint. In this connection it is to be understood that the projections 5 and 6 are of a height to prevent turning of the rails at their Lipper or tread portions. Hooks l1 project outwardly from the base portion of the end 2 and are adapted to embrace the sides of the projection 4L and under-lap the bolt or key 8, by means of which the end 2 is held against vertical movement after the parts have been properly positioned and the key 8 thrust through the opening 7. A bolt or key l2 is adapted to pass through openings formed in the end 2 and projection 6 and which coincide when the parts 1 and 2 are placed t0- gether. This bolt or key 12 maybe dispensed with and when resorted to prevents any possible vertical displacement of the parts comprising the joint. In order to make provision for contraction and expansion, the bolt-openingin one of the parts maybe elongated in the direction ot' the length of the rail, as will be readily comprehended. The hooks 11 are sufciently long to allow for linear movement of the rails due to changes incident to heat and cold.

From the foregoing it will be understood that the joint is simple and cheap, being free from the ordinary shplates and braced IOO against lateral displacement by reason of the interlocking projections which coperate with the fastening means to hold the ends of adjacent rails in firm relation when properly fitted.

I-Iaving thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is- 1. In a rail-joint, a basal extension projected from an end portion of one of the rails and provided upon its top side with a projection and adapted to nnderlap the end portion of the adjacent rail, which latter is recessed to receive said extension and admit of it coming flush with the bottom side of the rails, the recessed end of the adjacent rail having a socket to receive the aforesaid projection, and a fastelling passed through openings formed in coincident relation in the said projection and socket, substantially as set forth.

2. In a rail-joint, a rail having a terminal projection formed with a transverse opening, a pair of hooks projected from the terminal of the adjacent rail to embrace the sides of the aforesaid projection, and a fastening passed through the opening of the projection to embrace the innermost projection of the.

basal extension, and a fastening overlapping vsaid hooks and passed through an opening of the'projectiou spanned thereby, substantially as specified.

In testimony whereof we aix our signatures in presence of two witnesses. j

AMMoN I. STEPHENS. BENJMEN E. STEPHENS.

Witnesses:

WV. O. BROWN, PAUL GERDEs. 

